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ROBERT ARTHUR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PORTFOLIO. i

Specicaton of Letters Patent No. 17,311, dated May 19, 1857.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT ARTHUR, of thecity and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Po-rtfolios for Keeping Together SecurelyLetters, Loose Pa pers, &c., for Convenient Reference, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which make a part of this specification.

Two stiff binders boards, or their equivalent, of any desirable size,or'shape,

are secured, at, one side, by elastic hinges made of corrugatedindia-rubber cloth, metallic springs, or any other equivalent, properlysecured to the boards, by being glued or riveted to them, or in anyother suitable manner. Opposite to the hinges a strap (or more than oneif required), is attached to one of the boards, and arranged so as to besecured, at pleasure, to the opposing board, when the two boards arebrought together, by means of any suitable fastening. The disadvantagesarising from loss of elasticity -of the gu1n.-fabric, when this materialis employed, which occurs when it is kept stretched for a considerabletime, to or near, the extent of its elasticity, may be obviated bymaking the hinge and fastening adjustable, in the manner now toI bedescribed.

In the accompanying drawing, a Figures 1 and 3 represents a piece ofmetal fastened to one of t-he boards, by three rivets, at a distance ofa quarter of an inch, more or less, apart. The heads of these rivets areallowed to project abovethe level of the board, as shown in Fig. 2,sufiiciently high to receive a small plate attached to the end of theelastic stra Fig. 3, in which plate a slot is cut. This slot, at onepart, c Fig. 3, is sufficiently wide to pass over the heads of therivets, but is made smaller at the part b, Fig. 3, so that when drawninto place it cannot slip off the head of the pro jecting rivet to whichitis attached. This contrivance is applied to both hinges, and to thefastening at the opposite side, as

shown in Fig. 1. When provided with this l arrangement, the elasticityof the hinges and fastenings is taxed only enough to keep the containedpapers steadily in place; when any considerable quantity of papers isadded, the capacity of the portfolio may be increased by changing theattachment of the hinges and fastening strap, from the first to thesecond or third projecting rivet. Vhen it is desirable to empty thebook, the attachment is again changed to the rivet to which it was atfirst attached. Any similar contrivance for making the hinges, andfastening adjustable, may be employed.

The advantages of such a` port-folio are obvious. I/Vhen empty, thesides are in close contact, and will keep securely together two orvthree sheets of paper, but owing to the elasticity of the hinges andfastening, a very large number of sheets may be introduced; at pleasure.When they are removed, unless the elasticity of the material used forthe hinges and fastening, has been over-taxed, which may to a greatextent be avoided, by means of the device just described, the sides ofthe port-folio will come together again almost as perfectly as whenfirst made.

I am aware that a letter-file is made of a broad band of india-rubber,which is used to keep together, by means of its elasticity, a bundle offolded letters. I am also aware that a file has been made by confiningto gether two stiff boards, by means of an elastic Cord, or band,passing entirely around them or fastened to one board, the papers beingput -in at one end, by drawing the boards apart. I am also aware that anelastic clasp for pocket-books and probably other articles has beenmade. These I disclaim.

lVhat I claim as my invention, is:

l. A port-folio made with an elastic back or hinge, combined with anelastic`fastening.

2. I also claim making the hinge and fastening adjustable for thepurpose specified.

ROBERT ARTHUR.

Witnesses:

DAVID MORGAN, J. ALDEN ARTHUR.

